The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-05-05
LErrEn Fnora BURKE.
Special Correspondence Democratic Press.
GAN Tocrs CAT nril % 1897


Special Correspondence Democratic Press.
SAN JOSE, CAL. April "a, 1887.
I am now sojourning in San Jose,
;al., the county seat of Santa Clara
ounty, in the Santa Clara Valley ,one
# The finest valleys in America. San
lose has been termed the " Garden
jity," and justly SO. 1t is beautiful
,ity, embowered In fruit trees, and |
by as rich an expanse of |
as there is on the face of the
globe. 1t has a climate that is unsur-
passed by the most favored. Its build
ings are we'll constructed, of architect
ural beauty, and would be q credit to
any city In the land. Its streets are
broad, well laid out, and generally
thronged with busy traders. Within
the city limits are the fine residences
of many who have accumulated wealth
from the products Of the rich soil they
were fortunate in obtaining before ag
riculture. horticulture and viticulture
assumed the gigantic proportions they
now boast in this State.
San Jose's business men are public
spirited, its press stands in the front
rank of California newspapers. and
especially has this been so since the
18th of April Joined the ranks of
San Jose Journalists on that day. It's
women are intelligent, and as beauti.
ful as they are intelligent. It's schools
are superb; it's public buildings are a
credit to Santa Clara county and to
the State, and all in all. there is not a
more desirable place for home than
The " Garden City"
Santa Clara county has a population
of Sc, 900 and an assessed valuation of
property of $40, ,OOO. 900, exclusive of
railroad property. There are over e.
COG, 600 fruit trees of the choicest vari-
ETY. and about 1900 acres planted to
vines. The brandy manufactured
from grapes grown in this county has
become world-renowned as q staple
article and is now sought after as a
sta pie article and is now sought after
as commercial article, equal if not
superior to imported French goods.
Mineral waters and healing springs
abound in almost every part of the
county The waters of Gilroy Hot
Springs are undoubtedly as beneficial
for sciatica, rheum atism, gout, palsy.
paralysis and cutaneous complaints az
the famous waters of Hot Springs,
Ark. The cold soda and vichy from
the Pacific Congress Springs and the
Azule springs of Santa Clara county,
are as palatable and every bit as effica
cioas as the waters from any other part
of the world. The climate is nearest
perfection in the world. No people
have so much local pride as the Cali
fornian, and much of this attachment
ito the land is caused by the geniality
of the sky. This county is remarkably
free o malaria and diseases of the
respiratory organs. Vegetation today
here is as far advanced as in Ohio in
June, and we are now having regular
Ohio June weather. I have notseeI
a fire since have been here, in fact
it is a great deal more comfortable tl
sit in the shade.
You have, no doubt, heard of thu
famous Lick Observatory. tits located
on Mount Hamilton, 20 miles from
San Jose, on the eastern side of tn.
Valley. MFR. Lick, some twelve year,
ago, beqneathed $500. 900 for the cree
ton of an O servatory. Board o
Trustees was chosen, under whose
care and trust this magnificent monu
ment, long to remain in memory o
the donor, was erected, and Noun
Hamilton. of the Pacific Coast Range
in Santa Clara county, was chosen a.
offering the most convenient elevation
Mount Hamilton is a tri-mountaiD
the highest peak rising 4.50O feet. Th'
southern peak, the site of the Observ
atory, is l25 feet lower than the north
ern, but was chosen on account of it
easy accessibility. The largest teles
cope in the world will be in use here
the lens alone costing $5, 900.
Today is Sunday, and large excur
sion. with band of music, is her,
from San Francisco. so miles north
west.
This section of the country is wei
filled up with Ohio and other eastern
people, aud there are also great many
German speaking people here. Chi
nese are abundant too, and Spaniards
by whom the town was first inhabited
more than hundred years ago, ar
very numerous. BURKE,